The role of the TCF4 gene in the phenotype of individuals with 18q segmental deletions

Hum Genet. 2011 Dec;130(6):777-87. doi: 10.1007/s00439-011-1020-y. Epub 2011 Jun 14.

Abstract

The goal of this study is to define the effects of TCF4 hemizygosity in the context of a larger segmental deletion of chromosome 18q. Our cohort included 37 individuals with deletions of 18q. Twenty-seven had deletions including TCF4 (TCF4 (+/-)); nine had deletions that did not include TCF4 (TCF4 (+/+)); and one individual had a microdeletion that included only the TCF4 gene. We compared phenotypic data from the participants' medical records, survey responses, and in-person evaluations. Features unique to the TCF4 (+/-) individuals included abnormal corpus callosum, short neck, small penis, accessory and wide-spaced nipples, broad or clubbed fingers, and sacral dimple. The developmental data revealed that TCF4 (+/+) individuals were only moderately developmentally delayed while TCF4 (+/-) individuals failed to reach developmental milestones beyond those typically acquired by 12 months of age. TCF4 hemizygosity also conferred an increased risk of early death principally due to aspiration-related complications. Hemizygosity for TCF4 confers a significant impact primarily with regard to cognitive and motor development, resulting in a very different prognosis for individuals hemizygous for TCF4 when compared to individuals hemizygous for other regions of distal 18q.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors / genetics*
  • Child
  • Chromosome Aberrations*
  • Chromosome Deletion*
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 18*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Facies
  • Family
  • Female
  • Genotype
  • Hemizygote
  • Humans
  • Hyperventilation / genetics*
  • Intellectual Disability / genetics*
  • Male
  • Phenotype
  • Syndrome
  • Transcription Factor 4
  • Transcription Factors / genetics*

Substances

  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors
  • TCF4 protein, human
  • Transcription Factor 4
  • Transcription Factors

Supplementary concepts

  • Pitt-Hopkins syndrome